The Leonard Bernstein Award 2022 goes to the Scottish guitarist Sean Shibe, who combines musical genres and epochs in an unusual way and thus gives the classical guitar new popularity.

“This recognition is deeply moving, perhaps particularly so because it is the first time that the Leonard Bernstein Award has been awarded to a guitarist — but mostly because it feels like a ratification of an artistic direction that, while deeply felt by myself, at the time seemed risky and peculiar to many of my colleagues. Thank you, SHMF, for instead encouraging me further!”, Sean Shibe says happily about the honour.

“Sean Shibe is an impressively versatile young musician who inspires with the classical guitar as well as with the electric guitar or lute, opening up whole new musical worlds for us. We are excited to see where his journey will take him and are very pleased to support him on his way with the Leonard Bernstein Award!”, says Oliver Stolz, President of the Sparkassen- und Giroverband for Schleswig-Holstein.

Since 2002, the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe has donated the Leonard Bernstein Award, which is endowed with 10,000 euros, as part of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. The jury this year consisted of Christoph Eschenbach (Principal Conductor of the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra, Chief Conductor of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin), Jamie Bernstein Thomas and Alexander Bernstein (both Leonard Bernstein Society), Ute Fesquet (Senior Consultant Artists & Projects, Konzertdirektion Hans Ulrich Schmid), Martin Campbell-White (Askonas Holt Ltd., Consultant) as well as Oliver Stolz, President of the Sparkassen- und Giroverband for Schleswig-Holstein. 

“As a young guitarist, Sean Shibe combines different styles and genres. In doing so, he impresses with outstanding musical ability, a rich imagination and the courage to break new ground. He enriches the concert stages with his programmes. We are looking forward to many stimulating ideas from this exceptional talent,” says Festival Director Dr. Christian Kuhnt, who is also a member of the jury. 

The Leonard Bernstein Award 2022 will be presented during the prize-winners’ concert on Friday, 19 August in the Musik- und Kongresshalle in Lübeck. Sean Shibe will play the ​“Concierto de Aranjuez” by Joaquín Rodrigo. He will be accompanied by the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra conducted by Christoph Eschenbach.